Cholera : Prevention and Treatment

Cholera is an acute diarrheal disease that is highly contagious caused by the bacteria Vibrio cholerae or Vibrio comma which produces an enterotoxin that is very toxic. infectious diseases often cause epidemics and pandemics in many countries, leaving the victims died very large.

Morphology, bacteria Vibrio cholerae is a small sized between 2-4 microns, shaped like a comma, have a long flagellum so active. Germs that are Gram-negative staining does not form spores.Transmission of cholera, Indonesia, China and India are endemic cholera. Cholera epidemics often occur when large numbers of people congregate, vibrio germs transmitted directly through the stool or vomit of the patient, or indirectly transmitted by insects, such as flies and cockroaches.

Diagnosis of cholera, the incubation period lasts 3-6 days, followed by symptoms of acute diarrhea in large quantities up to 1 liter per hour, in the form of liquid stool followed by soft stool that looks like rice water (ricewater stool) that smells fishy. As a result, patients rapidly dehydrated with signs such as poor skin turgor, sunken eyes and the patient's face, the skin looks wrinkled fingers, eventually the patient can not urinate (anuri) and collapse.

Patients also showed signs of acidosis and signs of shock, such as rapid pulse, pulse contents less, followed by a quick drop in blood pressure. Complications that can occur is kidney failure.

Laboratory tests indicate the presence of vibrio bacteria on culture of feces or vomitus of patients. Serology with agglutination test showed positive results, while the examination of blood serum gives an overview hypokalemia (less and 3.5 mEq / l).

Treatment of cholera, rehydration measures should be undertaken to replace fluids and electrolytes lost. In the mild disease and the patient can drink, patients were given drinking water or oral rehydration salts and the like.In the severe dehydration, the patient should be infused using Ringer's solution or physiological saline. In addition, patients were given treatment for 3 days with one of the antibiotics, namely ampicillin, Tetrasikiin, Kioramfenikol or combination Tnimetopnim and Sulfametoksasol.

Prevention of cholera, cholera patients should be isolated and treated quickly. All objects soiled with feces or vomit of the patient must be sterilized. Drinking water sources must be protected from contamination. All food and beverages must be cooked first. Flies and other infectious insects must be eradicated, and the environment kept clean. People associated with the patient should be protected with vaccinations.

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